U.S. patent application number 14/098477 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-12 for channel drain with water stop.
The applicant listed for this patent is Olaf Mjelde. Invention is credited to Olaf Mjelde.
Application Number | 20140157510 14/098477 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50879377 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140157510 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mjelde; Olaf |
June 12, 2014 |
Channel Drain With Water Stop
Abstract
A channel drain with a water stop is adapted for handling pool
water in a swimming pool having a plastered surface. The channel
drain, preferably a sump drain includes an elongated channel having
a drain port and an opening for receiving pool water. A water stop
abutting and substantially encircling the opening is formed into a
trough for retaining and collecting the pool water. The drain is
configured for installation in a pool with the water stop buried in
the plastered surface, such that pool water seeping between the
opening and the plaster is trapped by the trough, preventing the
pool water from intruding beyond the plastered surface.
Inventors: |
Mjelde; Olaf; (San Diego,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Mjelde; Olaf |
San Diego |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50879377 |
Appl. No.: |
14/098477 |
Filed: |
December 5, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61734267 |
Dec 6, 2012 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
4/510 ;
29/527.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 29/4998 20150115;
E04H 4/1236 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/510 ;
29/527.1 |
International
Class: |
E04H 4/12 20060101
E04H004/12 |
Claims
1. A sump drain for handling pool water in a swimming pool having a
plastered surface, comprising: an elongated channel having a drain
port and an opening for receiving the pool water; a water stop
abutting and substantially encircling the opening; the water stop
comprising a trough for retaining and collecting the pool water;
and wherein the sump drain is configured for installation in the
pool with the water stop buried in the plastered surface, such that
the pool water seeping between the opening and the plastered
surface is trapped by the trough, thereby preventing the pool water
from intruding beyond the plastered surface.
2. The sump drain of claim 1 wherein the elongated channel has
multiple drain ports.
3. The sump drain of claim 1 wherein the trough includes a
substantially horizontal member extending from the elongated
channel, and a substantially vertical member extending upwardly
from the horizontal member.
4. The sump drain of claim 1 wherein the opening includes a rim
extending upwardly from the elongated channel.
5. The sump drain of claim 4 wherein the trough is disposed below
the rim.
6. An improved non-blockable sump drain for a plastered swimming
pool, comprising: a channel having an opening and a rim; a trough
substantially surrounding and abutting the opening, the trough
disposed below and outboard the rim; wherein when the sump drain is
configured to be installed in the swimming pool with plaster
surrounding the opening, the trough also being covered by plaster
such that only the opening is visible; whereby upon installation
pool water s prevented from seeping between the drain and the
surrounding plaster.
7. A method of preventing pool water from intruding into a
supporting wall in a plastered pool adjacent a pool drain
comprising the steps of: providing a drain with an opening for
receiving the pool water; abutting a trough to the opening;
securing the drain to the supporting wall; and substantially
surrounding the drain and the trough with plaster; whereby the pool
water is unable to seep between the pool drain and the surrounding
plaster.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority filing date
of provisional patent application No. 61/734,267, filed Dec. 6,
2012.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Pool drains, or sumps, as currently known in the art
comprise a plastic or fiberglass body, including a chamber into
which water flows from the pool as it gets recycled through the
pool's pump and filter. The chamber includes an opening, or sump
port, that connects to a pipe in communication with the pool pump
and filter apparatus. Pipes are typically installed in gunite or
shotcrete material forming the supporting walls of the pool. The
terminal end of a pipe is then encased in plaster along with the
drain to which it is connected. The plaster covers the gunite or
shotcrete and serves as a barrier between water in the pool and the
gunite or shotcrete.
[0003] Elongated channel sumps are popular in view of their
compliance with the Virginia Graham Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act
("VGB Act"), requiring swimming pool and spa sumps to prevent a
person's body from covering the entire sump intake and becoming
entrapped. Anti-entrapment channel sumps generally comply with the
VGB Act by providing multiple intake ports or being of a sufficient
length that they cannot be simultaneously blocked, i.e., if one
sump port or a portion is blocked, the other sump ports or other
portions allow water to continue to flow into the pump and filter
intake.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,888 to Stegmeier teaches a swimming pool
drain for decking areas of a swimming pool. The drain is an
elongated trough and is formed of parallel spaced-apart side walls.
A grating with apertures allows water to travel into the trough for
draining. Due to the elongated shape of the drain, occlusion of
apertures in one area still allows water to drain through adjacent
open apertures, preventing the drain from easy obstruction.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,095 to Zars discloses an elongated drain
to distribute the suction flow of water over a large surface area
and utilizes a bendable or deformable upwardly releasable grate
with slots. In this manner, when some slots are obstructed, other
slots allow water to pass through. Additionally, the bowing effect
of the grate allows it to be easily removed for cleaning.
[0006] U.S. App. No. 2007/0266489 to Martin discloses a trough with
an elongated drain inlet. The trough has a non-snaring surface and
the elongated inlet allows one portion of the inlet to be obscured,
while allowing water to travel through an open portion. All of
these references teach an elongated entrance to a drain, but only
have a single outlet, which, if blocked, renders the drain
inoperable.
[0007] A problem with the new VGB Act compliant swimming pool
drains disclosed in the art, particularly those with larger,
elongated channel sumps, is that cracks are more likely to form in
the plaster which they are embedded in, in particular where the
pool sump and plaster meet. This is due to the enlarged
circumference and longer interface between the plaster surface of
the pool and the edge of these types of drains. Consequently water
may seep into the surrounding plaster and then down into the
supporting walls of the pool, causing damage. It would therefore be
desirable to provide such a pool sump that prevents water from
migrating down cracks as they form in the plaster surrounding
it.
SUMMARY
[0008] A sump drain for handling pool water in a swimming pool
having a plastered surface is disclosed. The sump drain, preferably
a channel drain, includes an elongated channel having a drain port
and an opening for receiving the pool water. A water stop abuts and
substantially encircles the opening. The water stop is formed as a
trough for retaining and collecting the pool water, and the sump
drain is configured for installation in the pool with the water
stop buried in the plastered surface, such that the pool water
seeping between the opening and the plaster is trapped by the
trough, thereby preventing the pool water from intruding beyond the
plastered surface.
[0009] Preferably the sump drain has elongated channel with
multiple drain ports. The trough may include a substantially
horizontal member extending from the elongated channel, and a
substantially vertical member extending upwardly from the
horizontal member. Additionally, the opening may include a rim
extending upwardly from the elongated channel. The trough is
disposed below the rim.
[0010] One method of using the sump drain to prevent pool water
from intruding into a supporting wall, in a plastered pool adjacent
a pool drain, includes providing an elongated channel drain with an
opening for receiving the pool water and surrounding and abutting
the opening with a trough. The drain is secured to the supporting
wall and the drain and the trough are substantially surrounded with
plaster. In this manner, the pool water is unable to seep between
the pool drain and the surrounding plaster.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a channel sump drain with a
water stop having three ports.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a side view of a channel sump drain with a water
stop having three ports.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a channel sump drain with a water
stop having three ports.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a cut-away view of a channel sump drain with a
water stop installed in pool plaster.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a partial cut away view of the channel sump drain
showing the water stop.
REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0016] 10. sump drain [0017] 12. elongated channel [0018] 13.
opening [0019] 14. sump ports [0020] 16. tubes [0021] 18. anchoring
points [0022] 19. rim [0023] 20. water stop [0024] 22. pool plaster
[0025] 24. drain pipes [0026] 26. mortar (shotcrete) [0027] 28.
threads [0028] 30. horizontal shelf [0029] 32. vertical wall
DESCRIPTION
[0030] Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of a
channel-shaped swimming pool sump drain 10 is shown and described.
The sump drain 10 comprises an elongated channel 12, having an
opening 13 and multiple sump ports 14 along the elongated channel
12. The sump ports 14 are formed by tubes 16, which depend from the
elongated channel 12. In the illustrated embodiment, three (3)
evenly spaced sump ports 14 and tubes 16 are shown. In other
contemplated embodiments, the sump drain 10 may comprise a
different number of sump ports 14 and tubes 16 with alternative
spacing. The sump drain 10 may also include anchoring points 18
around its rim 19 on the elongated channel 12 side of the rim 19,
for alternatively anchoring the sump drain 10 in place once
installed, or securing a drain cover (not shown) to the sump drain
10.
[0031] Still referring to FIG. 1, the sump drain 10 comprises a
water stop 20 surrounding the opening 13 for collecting any water
(not shown) that intrudes between the sump drain 10 and the pool
plaster 22 (shown in FIG. 4) into which the sump drain 10 is
installed. In a preferred embodiment the water stop 20 is formed as
a trough or gutter extending around the sump drain 10 to collect
water seeping into cracks at any point between the sump drain 10
and the pool plaster 22. The water stop 20 also serves to anchor
the sump drain 10 in the pool plaster 22.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 2, a top plan view of the sump drain 10
shows the water stop 20 extending around the sump drain 10 outside
the rim 19. FIG. 2 also shows the anchoring points 18 and sump
ports 14. Referring to FIG. 3, a side view of the sump drain 10
shows the tubes 16 which form the sump ports 14 (not shown) descend
from the sump drain 10. By having multiple tubes 16, if one sump
port 14 becomes obstructed, water may travel through the other sump
ports 14 to avoid obstructing the sump drain 10. Still referring to
FIG. 3, in one preferred embodiment, the sump drain 10 is
approximately 32 and 29/32 inches long, the distance from the top
of the sump drain 10 to the bottom of the sump ports 14 is 5 and
1/2 inches, and the distance between sump ports 14 is 10
inches.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 4, an installed sump drain 10 is shown in
cut-away view. The sump drain 10 is installed on drain pipes 24
leading to a pool filter (not shown). Preferably the drain pipes 24
are installed in mortar 26 or shotcrete (also known as GUNITE.RTM.)
as is customary in typical pool installations with plaster 22
installed over the mortar 26 to encase the water stop 20. In one
embodiment the sump ports 14 may comprise threads 28 for engaging
the tubes 16 and drain pipes 24. Note that only one tube 16 and
drain pipe 24 is shown since the illustrated view is a lengthwise
side view.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 5, a close up view of the water stop 20 is
shown in cut-away profile. In the illustrated embodiment, the water
stop 20 comprises a horizontal shelf 30 extending around the sump
drain 10. A vertical wall 32 is included at the end of the
horizontal shelf 30 to catch water (not shown) migrating between
the sump drain 10 and the plaster 22 in which the sump drain 10 is
installed. The vertical wall 32 may extend above and below the
horizontal shelf 30, providing an effective anchoring mechanism in
the plaster 22 for the sump drain 10 as well, during and after
installation.
[0035] With the sump drain 10 having multiple sump ports 14
installed in a pool or spa (not shown), one or more sump ports 14
may be blocked while allowing the sump drain 10 to function
normally by pulling water (not shown) through the other sump ports
14. Over time, as water intrudes between the sump drain 10 and the
pool plaster 22, water is captured in the water stop 20. The water
stop 20 provides for a longer functional life of the sump drain 10,
and also helps secure the sump drain 10 in place in the plaster
20.
[0036] In order to make and use the sump drain 10 to prevent water
from intruding adjacent a pool drain in a plastered pool, the sump
drain 10 is first formed by creating an elongated channel 12 having
an opening 13. The elongated channel 12 is also formed with a water
stop 20 surrounding the opening 13, and at least one, but
preferably three or more drain ports 14 formed along the elongated
channel 12. The entire sump drain 10 may be made in a molding
process using a PVC, ABS or similar plastic-like durable
material.
[0037] Once the sump drain 10 is formed, the drain ports 14 may be
secured on pool drain pipes 24, optionally by engaging threads 28
on tubes 16 of the sump drain 10 corresponding with the drain ports
14. Once the sump drain 10 is engaged with the drain pipes 24,
mortar 30 (e.g., shotcrete) may be poured around the sump drain 10
and drain pipes 24 when forming the pool, and plaster 22
administered around the sump drain 10 including the water stop 20.
In this manner, should water intruded between the sump drain 10 and
plaster 22, the water stop 20 will hold it and prevent it from
migrating farther. Additionally, the water stop 20 serves as an
anchor, holding the sump drain 10 in position.
[0038] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have
been described While the apparatus and method have been described
in detail with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will
be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and
modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit
and scope thereof. Thus, it is intended that the present
description cover the modifications and variations of the apparatus
and method provided they come within the scope of the appended
claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *